Journal #3 Keeping the Peace (NETS IV & V)

Levinson, M. (2010). Keeping the peace. Learning & Leading With Technology, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25237&DirectListComboInd=D

Keeping the Peace is an article about Nueva Schools attempt to integrate laptop into the classroom. Each student received a Mac book for school purposes and they were allowed to bring it to and from school. It created many problems because the rules were very unstructured and the students had access to applications like ichat that proved to be very distracting and controversial. Students would use ichat during class time and not pay attention to teachers and they would use it at home, which proved to be a problem for some parents. Parents did not want their children using ichat but were having a hard time forbidding it when it was on the school issued laptop and available at school. Now the school has a boot camp at the start of every school year where students learn the proper use and care of the laptops. They have also buckled down on when students can use certain programs like ichat.

How would I feel as a teacher if the school were allowing students to use ichat while I was teaching?

I have to say I see teacher’s point of view in not allowing ichat or being upset by the use of it in their classroom. It is distracting and would take away from their time teaching. Students are not allowed to pass notes in class why should they be allowed to instant message each other?

How could ichat be helpful in a classroom setting?

Ichat could be used in team collaboration or in group member collaboration when some students are testing or need a quiet atmosphere. It could also be useful for students to work together from different homes or areas within the district when it is hard to meet face-to-face.